Staying Safe During Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Black Friday Deals. Cyber Monday Scams. Don’t Get Caught in the Middle.

It’s that time again… Inboxes overflowing with offers, pop-ups promising 90% off, and “too good to miss” countdown timers everywhere.

Unfortunately, cyber criminals love this season just as much as bargain hunters do.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are peak times for phishing emails, fake websites, and delivery scams. Attackers know that people are distracted, rushed and more likely to click without thinking.

That’s why security awareness training isn’t a box-ticking exercise.

Why awareness matters this time of year

Between staff buying gifts online at work, personal deliveries to offices, and endless “confirmation” emails, it’s easy for a fake message to slip through.
Attackers disguise themselves as:

• Trusted retailers (Amazon, Argos, Currys, etc.)

• Delivery firms (Royal Mail, DPD, Evri)

• Payment or verification pages

• Colleagues sharing “deals” or “charity raffles”

A few minutes of training helps staff spot the signs before they click – and builds a culture of pause-and-check rather than panic-and-click.

Top tips to stay secure during the sales

1. Think before you click
If a deal looks unbelievable, it probably is. Go directly to the retailer’s official website instead of following links in emails or messages.

2. Check the sender
Look at the full email address, not just the display name. Small changes, like @arnazon.co.uk instead of @amazon.co.uk, are easy to miss.

3. Avoid public Wi-Fi for shopping or banking
Hotspots in cafés or on-site can be spoofed. Use your mobile data or a VPN instead.

4. Don’t reuse passwords
If one site is compromised, the same login details can unlock your other accounts. Use a password manager to create strong, unique logins.

5. Watch for fake delivery messages
“Your parcel couldn’t be delivered” is one of the season’s biggest phishing hooks. Always verify on the courier’s official app or website.

6. Keep devices updated
Automatic updates patch known security holes. Turn them on, or better still, use patch management software.

7. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Even if your password is stolen, MFA adds another layer of protection.

8. Educate your team
Run a quick security refresher before the sales rush. Tools like Usecure, Huntress or CyberSmart Learn simulate phishing attacks safely – teaching staff how to spot the real thing.

The best deal this Black Friday?
Not falling for a scam.

If you’d like to run a quick security awareness refresher for your staff or test your team’s phishing resilience, get in touch.

We’ll help you make sure the only thing you click this weekend is “Add to Basket,” not “Give Away My Data.”